The DMPA Injectable Contraceptive May Lead to Poor Oral Health

Poor oral health has been linked to many drugs. More recently, study results published in the Journal of Periodontology suggest that the DMPA (depotmedroxyprogesterone acetate) injectable contraceptive may be associated with poor oral health. This includes women currently taking the prescription and those who are no longer taking the oral contraceptive.

Gingivitis is the precursor to gum disease, signified by red, swollen, and bleeding gums (when brushing). When left untreated, periodontitis is the most severe form of gum disease and can lead to tooth loss. In addition, research has linked gum disease to other diseases, such as, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The study results demonstrated that current and past users of DMPA were more likely to have gingivitis and past users were most likely to have periodontitis. Hormones and oral conditions caused by other drugs, such as dry mouth syndrome, do play a role in overall oral health.

For this reason, it is important for women who take or have taken the DMPA (depotmedroxyprogesterone acetate) injectable contraceptive to seek out the advice of their dentist about oral care to preserve their oral health. Your dentist may be able to recommend ways for you to reduce the risk of poor oral health. For example, he or she may recommend that you have a professional dental cleaning every three months instead of every six months. If you have dry mouth syndrome, your dentist may recommend oral saliva gels and moisturizers to prevent dry mouth syndrome.